Container holder



April 17, 1962 D. G. NOLTE CONTAINER HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1960 INVENTOR David G [VG/f8 ATTORNEYS April 17, 1962 D. G. NOLTE CONTAINER HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1960 INVENTOR I .i. v I

Dav/U G Na/le ATTORNEYS United grates. Fer 9 cc 3,029,935 CONTAINER HGLDER David G. Nolte, Richmond, Va., assignor to Halifax Paper Company, Incorporated, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. 17, 196i), Ser. No. 15,744 9 Claims. (Cl. 206-47) The present invention relates broadly to packaging de vices and more specifically to a unique and novel jacket or sleeve for attaching and holding together as a single package a plurality of containers.

In the retail trade it is often desirable to offer a plurality of containers in the form of a single package. This is especially true when one considers the present day merchandising method of offering a premium package with the purchase of another item. Furthermore, it has been found to be highly desirable to offer in the form of a single package a plurality of containers or packages containingfood items that are usually associated with one another, such as ice cream and syrup to make sundaes,

prepared cake mix and the icing therefor, as well as various other items.

It has been found that where related or associated food items normally packaged in separate containers can be assembled or joined into a single package that the sale of such a package is far greater than when the items are sold separately. In addition, the combining of several containers into a single package facilitates the handling thereof and quite often enhances the promotion and sale of the several items.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a sleeve or jacket in a form of a tubular wrapper for enclosing and retaining in engagement with one another a pair of containers.

Another object is to providea onepiece collapsible container holder that is provided with a transverse band or web at one end thereof for engaging an end of a pair of superimposed containers. v

Another object is to provide a onepiece collapsible container holder that is provided with locking tabs or flaps at one end for engagement with a bead or flange on a container to secure said holder and another container on the first container.-

Still another object is to provide a onepiece collapsible container holder which may be shipped in a flat condition and which is easily and quickly set up holding a plurality of containers.

A further object is to provide a onepiece collapsible sleeve or wrapper that is adapted to slide over and along a pair of superimposed containers and to engage a flange on the lowermost container for locking said sleeve and containers in assembled relationship.

Still other objects are to provide a onepiece collapsible sleeve or wrapper that is readily assembled, economical of manufacture and which is simple in construction.

Other objects and advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing in the manner in which all of the various objects are realized will appear in the following description, which, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sleeve or wrapper of the present invention holding as a single package one container superimposed upon another container;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the sleeve or wrapper is formed;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 2 in partially assembled form;.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the container hold- I ing sleeve or wrapper in assembled condition;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the container holding sleeve or wrapper shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank from which a modified container holding sleeve or wrapper is formed;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 6

in partially assembled form;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a container holding sleeve or wrapper formed from the blank shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a pair of containers held together as a single package by the sleeve of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings there is show n in FIGS. 1 and 9, a cylindrical container or receptacle 12 of the type in which ice cream is customarily packaged, either by hand or in bulk. The top or upper edge of the container 12 is formed, in any suitable manner, with an annular external bead 14 which is adapted to support a top 15 for" The top 15 is provided with an annular upstanding projection 16 which terminates in a depend ing flange 17 that frictionally engages the bead 14 for the container.

securing the top or cover upon the container 12. The top 15 is adaptedto support a second container or receptacle 18 which is provided with a top 19 that is se-- cured thereon in thesame manner as top 15 is allixed to" container 12. The second container 18 is usually smaller in size than the first container and if ice cream is pack- I aged in the first or bottom container, then a suitable syrup may be placed in the second container so that sun'- 1 daes may be made from the contents of the two containers. 1

blank includes two main or front and back panels 22 and 23,v respectively, with end or connecting panels 24 and 25 interposed therebetween. The end or connecting panels 24 and 25 are joined to the main or front and back panels 22 and 23 by score or fold lines 26 and 27, re-

spectively, While a score or fold line 28 joins the two panels 24 and 25 together. The main or front panel 22 has an end or connecting panel 29 secured thereto'by a fold or score line 30, while the main or back panel 23 has end or connecting panels 31 and 32 secured thereto by a fold or score line 33 with a fold or score line 34 joining panel 31 to panel 32. I

The main panels 22 and 23 have projecting from their upper edges tabs or flaps 36 and 37,"respectively, which are connected to the main panels by score or fold lines 38 and 39. The tabs 36 and 37 are preferably of semicylindrical configuration with tab 36 having a segment 40 connected thereto by a fold or score line 41. In lieu of the segment 40 the tab 36 may be secured directly to the tab 37 by a suitable adhesive.

The main or front and back panels 22 and 23 are formed with depending flaps or segments 44 and 45 which are connected to the respective main panels 'by fold or score lines 46 and 47, respectively. The flaps or seg respectively, and overlie the bottom portion of the panels I 22 and 23 the ends or end member 48will in turnover- Patented Apr. 17, 1962 U liea substantial portion of the panels 29 and 24 and end or end members 49 will likewise overlie a substantial portion of the panels 25 and 31, as shown in FIG. 3.

The flap or segment 44 isprovided with fold or score lines 51 which are inclined inwardly towards the center of the bottom edge of the flap from the fold lines 26 and 30. These score lines 51 do not extend to the bottom edge of the flap 44 but terminate in an angularly disposed slit or cut 52 which in conjunction with the score lines 51 define the ends or end members 48 of the flap or segment 44. In a like or similar manner, the flap or segment 45 is provided with score or fold lines 53 and slits 54 which define the ends or end members 49 of the flap 45.

In assembling the sleeve or container holder 21, the flaps 44 and 45 are folded on the score lines 46 and 47, respectively, so as to partially overlie the panels 29- 22-24-25-23-31. The portion of the flaps or segments 44 and 45, as defined by the fold or score lines 46-51 and 47-53, respectively, may if so desired have an adhesive applied thereto so as to insure the retention of this portion of the flaps in engagement with the panels 22 and 23. It is to be understood, however, that use of an adhesive on the flaps or segments 44 and 45 is not necessary, as the jacket or container holder 21 will readily function in an etficient manner without the use of adhesive on said flaps.

The sleeve or jacket 21 is next folded on the score lines 26-28-27 so that panel 22 is in spaced aligned relation with panel 23. The panel 29 is then folded on score line 30, to position wherein it is substantially in a plane normal to panel 22 and panel 31 is folded on score line 33 in. a similar mannerwith respect topanel 23. The panel 32 is providedon its inner face with a suitable adhesive and is then folded on score line 34 so as to overlie the outer face of panel 29, FIG. 5, and be secured thereto. The bottom or lower portion of the sleeve or container holder 21 is then in assembled condition.

The, tab 37 ,is next folded on score line 39 towards panel 22 until it is in a plane normal to panel 23 and tab 36 is then folded in a similar manner so as to overlie tab 37. The segment 40 of tab 36 may then be folded under tab 36. on score line 41 and a suitable adhesive 56 applied thereto for securing the segment 40 and the tab 36 to the tab 37 as shown in FIG. 1. The tabs 36 and 37 when in assembled condition define a top or closure member for, the sleeve or container holder 21. The sleeve or container holder 21 is then ready to be placed over a pair of containers which have ben placed one upon the other, asshown in FIG. 9 by sliding the sleeve or jacket 21 down over the topmost container until the tabs 36-37 engage the top of the uppermost container.

As the sleeve vor jacket 21 is being moved down over the containers 18 and 12, and just prior to placing the sleeve over said containers, pressure is applied to the panels 24-25 and 31-32 to force the panels towards each other, which action causes the end portions 48 and 49 to move over the inner surface of these panels and gradually approach one another. As the ends 48 of flap 44 gradually approach the ends 49 of flap 45, said ends will stand away from or be projected from the inner faces of the panels 24-25 and 31-32 as well as panels 22 and 23, due to the score lines 51 and 53 and the slits 52 and 54, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. With the ends 48 and 49 projecting upwardly from the various panels, the sleeve or jacket 21 is then moved downwardly over the superimposed containers so that the edges 57 and 58 of the end members 48 and 49, respectively, will slide. along and over the depending flanges 17, FIG. 9, of the top 15, and finally move off said flanges. As the edges 57 and 58 of the end members 48 and 49 move off theflange 17 they will snap under the bead 14 provided on the lowermost or.bottom container 12, due to the inherent resiliency of the end members 48 and 49, and also due to the manner in which said end members are forced outwardly. from theinner surface of the various panels upon the application of pressure to the outer surface of the panels 24-25 and 31-32.

At the same time that the edges 57 and 58 of end members 40 and 49 move under or beneath the bead 14 of container 12, the tabs 36 and 37 will engage the top 19 of the uppermost container 18 and said container will be securely held in engagement with the top 15 of the bot tom container 12. The sleeve or container holder 21 is of such size that the two containers will be securely held in engagement with one another as tabs 36-37 engage the top of the uppermost container and the end members 48-49 engage the head 14 on the lowermost container, thus preventing one container from becoming separated with respect to the other container even though the topmost container is of a smaller diameter than the bottom container. In order to remove one container from the other, it is necessary to tear the sleeve or jacket 21 so that it may be completely removed from the two containers.

In FIGS. 6 through 8 there is shown a modified form of the sleeve or container holder 21 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The sleeve or container holder shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is identical in all respects with the container holder 21 with the exception of the flaps or segments 44 and 45. Where the parts, such as panels, score lines, and the like are identical, they have been so indicated by the same reference numerals of a higher series. The flaps or segments 144 and 145 that are connected to the panels 122 and 123 by score or fold lines 146 and 147 are the same length as said panels 122. and 123. The score or fold lines 151 of flap or segment 144 originate at the juncture of score lines 126 and 130 with score or fold line 146 and converge inwardly and downwardly towards the free edge of flap 144 to define corner or end members 148 which are substantially isosceles triangles. The flap or segment 145 is formed with corner orend members 149 in the same manner that members 148 are formed on the flap or segment 144.

The sleeve or container holder 121 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is assembled in the same manner as the sleeve or container holder 21, with the exception that the end members 148 and 149 are bent or folded over towards the flaps or segments 144- and 145, respectively, rather than engage the inner surface of the various panels as do the end members 48 and 49 of FIG. 2. Thus, the end members 148 and 149 are bent or folded so as to overlie to a degree the flaps or segments 144 and 145. As the sleeve or container holder 121 is slidably placed upon a pair of superimposed containers the end members 148 and 149 will be moved from their pre-bent or pre-folded position back towards the panels 122 and 123, as the flaps or segments 144 and 145 slidably move over the depending flange 17 of the top 15 on the container 12. As the edges 157 and 158 of the end members 148 and 149, respectively, move off the depending flange 17, the inherent resiliency of the end members 148 and 149 will cause the edges 157 and 158 to move or snap under the head 14 on the container 12 for locking the two containers 12 and 18 in superimposed relationship with one another.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rte-arrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as claimed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder for a pair of containers arranged one upon the other, comprising a pair of main panels joined together in spaced relation to one another by a plurality of intermediate panels for slidably receiving therein said containers in spaced relation to each of said panels, a tab pivotally connected to each of said main panels, said tabs being secured together'to define a top disposed in spaced relation to said intermediate and main panels, said top engaging one of said containers and means overlying said main and intermediate panels engageable with the other container for holding said containers in engagement with one another.

2. A holder for a pair of containers arranged one upon the other with the lowermost container having an annular bead thereon comprising a pair of main panels joined together in spaced relation to one another by a plurality of intermediate panels with each of said panels having a top and bottom edge, respectively, said panels slidably receiving therebetween said containers, a tab pivotally connected to each of said main panels at its respective top edge and disposed in a plane normal to its respective panel, said tabs being secured together to define a top for said panels engageable with the uppermost container, and flaps on said main panels at their respective bottom edges and positioned diametrically opposite said tabs; said flaps engageable with said bead for retaining said containers within said holder.

3. A holder for a plurality of containers arranged one upon the other with at least one of said containers having an annular bead formed thereon, comprising a pair of main panels joined together in spaced relation'to one another by a plurality of intermediate panels with each of said panels having a top and bottom edge respectively, each of said pair of main panels having a tab and a flap pivotally connected thereto at its top and bottom edge respectively, one of said tabs being secured to the other of said tabs and defining a top for said holder, each of said flaps being pivoted to lie along a common surface of its respective panel, said flaps having end members pivotally connected thereto for engagement with said annular bead contemporaneous with said top engaging the uppermost container for holding said containers in engagement with one another.

4. A holder for engaging a pair of containers arranged one upon the other with the lower container having an annular beadformed thereon, comprising a front and a back panel having top and bottom edges, said front and back panels being joined together by intermediate panels to define a sleeve into which said containers are slidably inserted, said front panel having a tab secured thereto at its top edge and disposed in a plane normal to said panel, said back panel having a tab secured thereto at its top edge and disposed in a plane normal to said panel, said first tab being secured to said second tab and defining a top for said sleeve to limit the inward movement of said containers and means pivotally connected to said front and back panels at their respective bottom edges and engageable with said annular bead for securing said containers within said sleeve.

5. A holder for engaging a pair of containers arranged one upon the other with the lower container having an annular bead formed thereon, comprising a front and a back panel having top and bottom edges, said front and back panels being joined together by intermediate panels to define a sleeve into which said containers are slidably inserted from an end thereof, said front panel having a tab secured thereto at its top edge and disposed in a plane normal to said panel, said back panel having a tab secured thereto at its top edge and disposed in a plane normal to said panel, said first tab being secured to said second tab and defining a top for said sleeve to limit the inward movement of said containers, a flap pivotally connected to said front panel, said flap having end members pivotally connected thereto, said flap and end members adapted to overlie aportion of said front panel with said end members projecting outwardly from said front panel and engageable with said bead for securing said containers within said sleeve.

6. A holder for engaging a pair of containers arranged one upon the other with the lower container having an annular bead formed thereon, comprising a front and a back panel having top and bottom edges, said front and back panels being joined together by intermediate panels to define a tubular holder into which said containers are slidably inserted, said front panel having a tab secured thereto at its top edge and disposed in a plane normal to said panel, said back panel having a tab secured thereto at its top edge and disposed in a plane normal to said panel, said first tab being secured to said second tab and defining a top for said tubular holder to limit the inward movement of said containers, a flap pivotally connected to each of said front and back panels at their respective bottom edges, each of said flaps having end members pivotally connected thereto, each of said flaps and end members being adapted to overlie a portion of its respective front and back panels with said end members projecting outwardly from said front and back panels and engaging said head for securing said containers within said tubular holder.

7. A holder for a pair of containers arranged one upon the other with the lowermost container having an annular bead thereon comprising a pair of main panels joined together in spaced relation to one another by a plurality of intermediate panels, to define a jacket for slidably receiving'therebetween said containers, a tab pivotally connected to each of said m-ain panels and disposed in a plane normal to its respective panel, said tabs being secured together to define a top for said panels engageable with the uppermost container, a flap having an edge pivotally connected to each of said pair of main panels diametrically opposite said tabs, each of said flaps having score lines formed thereon with said score lines converging inwardly from the ends of said flaps at its pivotal connection with each of said main panels towards the free edge of said flap to define an end member, each of said flaps and end members being adapted to overlie a portion of the main panel to which it is connected with said flaps and end members of each main panel being positioned intermediate said main panels with said end members being bent outwardly from said flaps and engaging said bead for securing said containers within said holder.

8. A holder for engaging a pair of containers arranged one upon the other with the lower container having an annular bead formed thereon, comprising a front and a back panel, said front and back panels being joined together 'by intermediate panels to define a holder into which said containers are slidably inserted, said front panel having a tab secured thereto and disposed in a plane normal to said panel, said back panel having a tab secured thereto and disposed in a plane normal to said panel, said first tab being secured to said second tab and defining a top for said holder disposed in spaced relation to said intermediate panels to limit the inward movement of said containers, aa flap pivotally connected to each of said front and back panels, each of said flaps having end members pivotally connected thereto, each of said flaps and end members overlying a portion of its respective front and back panels and the adjacent intermediate panels, said end members upon the application of pressure on said intermediate panels being flexed outwardly to engage said annular bead and secure said containers within said holder.

9. A holder for a pair of containers arranged in vertically disposed relation one upon the other with the lowermost container having an annular bead thereon comprising a pair of main panels joined together in spaced relation to one another by a plurality of intermediate panels, said panels slidably receiving therebetween said vertically disposed containers with the vertical axis of said containers and said panels being in a common plane, a tab pivotally connected to each of said main panels and disposed in a plane normal to its respective panel, said tabs being secured together to define a top for said panels engageable with the uppermost container, at flap being provided with an edge pivotally connected to each of said 7 pair of main panels diametrically opposite said tabs, each of said flaps having score lines formed thereon with said score lines converging inwardly from the ends of said flaps at its pivotal connection with each of said main panels towards the free edge of said flap, slits provided in said flaps and intersecting said score lines to define therewith a flexible end member, each of said flaps and end members being adapted to overlie a portion of the main panel to which it is connected and the adjacent intermediate panels, said end members slidably engaging References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Arneson Sept. 25, 1956 Gruber et al July 22, 1958 Williamson July 26, 1960 

